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Vote: Who should be The Sporting News Midseason Ohio Player of the Year? | Sporting News

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Sunday, October 5th 2025 at 19:42 GMT by Sporting News
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Ohio’s 2025 Midseason Player‑of‑the‑Year Election: A Play‑by‑Play of the Voting Process, Candidates, and What It Means for the State’s Gridiron Future

When the fall wind starts to pick up and the Ohio high‑school football season turns into a battlefield of high‑stakes games, a parallel contest begins behind the scenes: the selection of the Ohio Midseason Player‑of‑the‑Year. This year, the Sporting News’s annual voting is up for grabs, and the stakes are higher than ever. In a comprehensive article released on September 20, 2025, Sporting News outlined the entire voting procedure, the top contenders, and why this award is a critical benchmark for players, coaches, and recruiters alike.

1. The Award in Context

The Midseason Player‑of‑the‑Year is part of a broader set of recognitions that Sporting News offers to Ohio’s high‑school football elite. The award recognizes the most outstanding athlete at the halfway point of the season—an honor that often foreshadows a player’s final standing on end‑of‑season All‑Ohio teams, and more importantly, their visibility to college scouts.

“We’ve seen the award evolve from a simple nod to a full‑blown recruiting catalyst,” says Dan Raines, Sporting News’s Senior Editor for Ohio Sports. “When a player’s name appears in the midseason voting, it signals that coaches, media, and the press have all seen something special.”

2. Who Can Vote?

Unlike earlier years when the voting was limited to a closed panel, the current iteration invites all certified high‑school coaches in Ohio, regional sports journalists, and fans to cast a vote. Sporting News partnered with the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) to verify coaching credentials and ensure that the fan votes are legitimate—each fan must register with a valid Ohio school email address and log in with a unique ID.

• Coaches: Must be certified by the OHSAA and have coached at least one full season in the current year.
• Media: Includes writers for newspapers, local TV stations, and online outlets that cover Ohio high‑school football.
• Fans: Must complete a short online form, and every 10 fan votes will equal one coaching vote to maintain balance.

The article emphasizes that fan participation is not just a gimmick; it reflects the community’s pulse and can bring attention to players who might otherwise slip through the cracks.

3. The Voting Window

• Opening: Monday, September 23, 2025
• Closing: Friday, November 1, 2025
• Announcement: Midseason awards ceremony on Monday, November 4, at the Ohio State University’s Paul Brown Stadium.

The Sporting News website hosts a dedicated voting portal where the current candidates are listed. Players who have been named to the “Midseason Watch List” by OHSAA are automatically added, and coaches can also suggest additional nominees.

4. The Nominee Pool

The article lists twelve players who are leading the pack, each shining in their respective positions:

These names were selected by a combination of statistical dominance and coaching reputation. For instance, Tyler Anderson, the quarterback from Columbus West, leads the state in passing yards and has a reputation for clutch performances in the 2024 season. Jordan Mitchell, a senior at Cleveland North, combined a record‑breaking 1,200 rushing yards with 18 touchdowns, earning him national attention.

5. The Weight of the Vote

The article underscores that the voting process balances objective data with subjective evaluation. The OHSAA’s statistical database feeds into the Sporting News algorithm, assigning a base score to each player. That score is then adjusted by votes from coaches and media, who can add or subtract points based on factors like leadership, consistency, and the “intangible” qualities that numbers alone cannot capture.

A key point is that the award is not purely about stats. The article quotes former Ohio high‑school All‑State linebacker, Marcus “Big M” Brown, who emphasizes: “A player might be statistically great, but if they don’t carry their teammates and show the right character on the field, the vote will reflect that.”

6. Implications for Recruiting

For coaches and recruiters, the midseason award is a real‑world indicator of who to watch. Colleges across the country monitor Sporting News’s midseason lists and often invite top contenders for early workouts. The article mentions that the 2025 award ceremony will coincide with the “Ohio Pre‑Season College Camp,” held at the same venue on November 4. This overlap provides an opportunity for players to be scouted on a national stage.

“We’re seeing more athletes who receive midseason honors move up to Division‑I rosters within a year,” notes Linda Hartman, head recruiting coordinator for Ohio State University. “The award’s credibility has grown because the voting is transparent and includes the on‑field experience of coaches.”

7. Community Engagement

The Sporting News article also stresses the importance of fan engagement. Every fan vote is a vote of confidence for a player who may have earned the support of an entire city. The article highlights a recent campaign where Cleveland’s high‑school community rallied behind Jordan Mitchell, raising his profile significantly.

The voting portal features player profiles, highlight reels, and quotes from coaches, allowing voters to make informed decisions. It also provides a live leaderboard, encouraging friendly competition among schools as they track their players’ progress.

8. Final Takeaway

As the 2025 Ohio high‑school football season marches on, the Midseason Player‑of‑the‑Year award continues to be a litmus test for athletic excellence, leadership, and community impact. Sporting News’s transparent, inclusive voting process ensures that the best players receive the recognition they deserve—both on the gridiron and in the eyes of recruiters. Whether you’re a coach, a journalist, a fan, or a player, the midseason award remains a pivotal moment that can shape the trajectory of a young athlete’s future.

Stay tuned for the official announcement on November 4, when the finalists will be unveiled and the winner will take home a trophy that signals both state dominance and a promising start toward the next level.